Maddia Groff - “Emma Nelson Takes on United States Air Force Academy”

By J1 Reporter Maddia Groff

With tears rolling down her cheeks, Emma Nelson was nearing her breaking point. It was basic training and push-ups were not a soccer-player’s exercise of choice. She could hear her Cadre approaching as he weaved in between the rows of her fellow cadets, yelling and demanding her not to stop. With him standing over her, Nelson refused to break. As she mustered up the strength for another rep, she said to herself, “I am always able to do one more so why am I doubting myself?” Arms shaking, Nelson went down and completed another push-up. And then another. And then another.

At the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), experiences like these are common. Being a division 1 student-athlete at any university is a difficult task, but “the Academies are their own beast,” Nelson said.

Nelson comes from a military family. Her dad had an especially significant impact on her decision to go to USAFA. He also attended the Academy and later coached baseball there. Nelson grew up in Colorado Springs, where USAFA is located, and connects her childhood memories with her father to that place.

Her father is now buried on the Academy’s campus, which really built her connection with him and the university. She felt that it hit all of her family ties and allowed her to pursue her dream of playing soccer at the division 1 level.

Initially, Nelson’s mother was against the idea of her following her father’s footsteps because of her personal experience as a military spouse. She saw all of the struggles and difficulty behind the scenes that comes with being a military spouse. However, “as soon as she saw my drive for it, she did a 180,” Nelson said. She proved to be a pillar of strength for her throughout her time at the Academy.

As Nelson said before, the Academies are their own beast. USAFA consists of 80% male and 20% female. That alone speaks volumes about Nelson’s fearless and empowered character. She graduated from Marian in 2017 and had to navigate through the drastic change of going from an all-girls school to a male-dominated university.

However, she went in with a solid approach. “I would tell myself that if people before me could do it, then I could do it, too,” Nelson said.

On top of the already cumbersome work-load at USAFA, Nelson had to face additional challenges in her time there.

Second semester of her junior year, COVID hit. Beloved traditions and privileges that had motivated her to keep working were suddenly taken away. Nelson, along with the rest of the cadets at the Academy, were confined to their simple 10x12 foot room for months to prevent the spread. But she refused to break.

On top of this, Nelson tore her ACL in the fall of her senior year. Because of this, she was not able to consistently compete in her last season of playing soccer. Still, she refused to break.

Reflecting on her overall experience and challenges at USAFA, Nelson claimed, “I wouldn’t be the woman I am today without the struggles I went through.”

Emma Nelson’s positive outlook and resilience throughout her time at the Academy can all be traced back to doing one more push-up. It was moments like these when she became an honorable member of the United States Air Force, moments like these when she refused to break.

“I wouldn’t be the woman I am today with out the struggles I went through.” -Emma Nelson